R l davison



April 9, 1935. R. 1.. DAVISON COMBINED BUILDING TRUSS AND LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Sept. 21, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l mm V,

n o .6 Rv c n M M EL .0 V T m n 2 w w R H B April 9, 1935. R. L. DAVISON COMBINED BUILDING TRUSS AND LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Sept. 21, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Robe L Dawson H ATTORNEY Ap 1935- R. L. DAVISON 1,997,168

COMBINED BUILDING TRUSS AND LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Sept. 21, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Robem L. Davison TORNEY Patented Apr. 9, 1935 UNITED STATES COMBINED BUILDING LIGHTING TBUSS AND Robert L. Davlson, New York, N. i, m to John B. Pierce Foundation, New York, N. 1., summation of New York Application September 21, 1932, Serlal Nab-34,134

3 Claims.

My present invention relates to building con struction and more particularly to an improved combined building truss and lighting fixture.

In the design of a house or other like building,

it is advantageous that the construction shall be as light as is possible, while maintaining suflicient strength in the various component parts of the structure.

In the design of such buildings, it has been found desirable to provide a relatively light ,floor, roof or ceiling truss, preferably made up of a plurality of angle members of appropriate lengths and cross-sectional area and rods associated with and interconnecting such angle members.

Pursuant to the present invention, I utilize the space, usually of rectangular configuration within the truss formation for decorative purposes, as by enclosing by means of ornamental plates, or by enclosing with transparent or translucent material and insert within the enclosed space lighting medium of appropriate character.

The resultant combined truss and light fixture is relatively light in weight and amply strong in construction. The construction parts are readily assembled with a minimum of labor, whether skilled or unskilled. The construction lends itself to factory fabrication, but is not limited thereto.

An object of my invention, therefore, is an improved building truss assembly.

Another object of my invention is an improved combined building truss and light fixture.

Other and additional objects and features of the invention will appear more fully from the herein disclosure inclusive of the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation illustrating one modification of my invention in side elevation and in position in a building structure;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional end elevation on the line |4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing various methods of attaching my improved truss in a buildingtgomposed of a plurality of factory fabricated uni Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a side elevation showing another modification of my invention with the light fixture being attached to the truss rods; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional end elevation on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 to 6, there is shown a combined truss and light fixture forming the subject matter of my a pair of parallelly arranged members of appropriate length and cross-sectional area, preferably angular in shape and spaced apart at their ends by angular members H and t2, the members I0 being secured to the members II and I2 by welding or in any other suitable manner.

Intermediate the ends of the longitudinal members l0 and approximately at the center thereof, are downwardly extending members 13 of any length desired and of appropriate crosssection. In the drawings I have shown the members l3 as being tubular in form, and such tubular members l3 are attached to the longitudinally extending angular members II) by welding or in any other suitable manner. Secured to each end of eacH of the longitudinally extending angular members It are the ends of truss rods [4, these trum rods being secured to the ends of the angular members If! by welding or in any other suitable manner. The truss rods ll extend laterally downward from the angular members III, as viewed in Fig. 1, and the intermediate portions of such truss rods l4 engage with the lower or outer ends of the laterally extending members l3, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The longitudinally extending angular members I ll, the members l3 and the truss rods l4 form a truss which is admirably adapted for use in a building construction that is adapted to be fabricated at the factory in units of predetermined size, and to facilitate the incorporation of the combined truss and light fixture in a building, I have shown one of the end members ll of my present invention provided with a plurality of perforations on one face thereof, through which may extend screws or equivalent fastening means l5, and which fastening means may be screwed into or otherwise embedded in one of the vertical walls or partitions l6 of which the building is made.

As a variation of this type of fastening means, I have provided the other end member l2 at various points along this length, with sections of angle iron H, such members I! being attached to the member I! by welding or in any other suitable manner, and such members I! act as retaining hooks for the truss member by hooking over the edge of a vertically arranged metal member 18 that is embedded in one of the wall or partition sections IQ of a building.

When the-truss is in position, as show in Figs. 5 and 6. it will be readily understood that floor or roof sections 20 may be placed on the top of the truss member and such floor sections 20 provide a floor for the room of the house on the upper surface and a ceiling for the room of the house on the under surface thereof. As a means of finish for concealing joints between the floor sections and the wall or partition sections I6 and I9, I have provided the members 2| of relatively light metal construction.

The space defined by the longitudinally extending angular members ID, the truss rods l4 and the laterally or outwardly extending members l3, defines a substantially rectangular space which I preferably enclose on all exposed faces with transparent or translucent material 22 encased in frames 23. The transparent or translucent material may be glass or other vitreous material, the type of the material to be employed depending upon the degree of embellishment it is desired to impart to the fixture.

n the interior of the space thus enclosed and attached to and extending between the longitudinally extending angular members 20, I arrange a spacing plate 24 on which may be mounted one or more light brackets 25, each bracket, as shown, in the drawings and particularly in Fig. 2, holding two electric light bulbs 26. A plurality of such brackets 25 may be utilized, each mounted on a single member 24 or on a plurality of such members as may be desired, and the wiring for such electric light bulbs 26 may be carried out in any desired or approved manner.

Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8, there is shown a modification of my invention in which the rectangular space defined by the longitudinally extending angular members I0, the truss rods I4, and the laterally or downwardly depending members I3, is not enclosed, and in such instance, I preferably attach and combine my lighting fixture by means of angle members 21 extending transversely of the truss member and being interposed between the lower or outer ends of the members l3 and the truss rods H. The angle members 21 are preferably permanently and rigidly attached to both the members l3 and the truss rods [4 by welding or in any other suitable manner.

Secured to the truss members M by screws 28 passing through perforations in the angle members 21 and screwing into members 29 is a rectangular framework 30 provided on its sides, ends and bottom with transparent or translucent panels 3| Extending between the angle members 21 and above the rectangular member 30 is a plate or strip 32, preferably of metal, to the under face of which may be attached light brackets 33, each carrying one or more electric light bulbs 34, and, as in the case above described, the wiring for the lamp bulbs 34 may be of any approved or desired type.

It is preferable that the rectangular member 30 be of such area on its bottom face and side and end faces as to successfully hide the lighting fixtures 33 and the electric light bulb-34 from direct view, although this, while desirable, is not at all necessary.

From the above, it will appear that I have devised an improved building truss assembly. It further appears that my invention results in a building truss having an exterior which may be rendered decorative as may be desired.

In the more preferred forms of the invention, the construction results in an improved combined building truss and lighting fixture.

As is apparent, my invention is applicable to any suitable building truss, as a truss for a fioor, roof, ceiling and the like.

Further modfications will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art after a study of my invention, and I am not to be limited to the exact forms as herein described and as shown on the accompanying drawings.

I claim:

1. A combined building truss and lighting fixture, comprising a pair of horizontally extending angularly shaped members, oppositely disposed horizontally extending members respectively interconnecting the juxtaposed opposite ends of said pair of horizontally extending angularly shaped members, a pair of downwardly extending members connected at their ends respectively to said pair of horizontally extending angular members, a plurality of vertically extending members interconnecting substantially symmetrically disposed portions of said downwardly extending members with said horizontally extending angular members at substantially symmetrical portions thereof intermediate their respective ends, a lamp housing constituted by a plurality of transparent panels arranged to form an enclosure, means for securing the housing to the aforesaid truss parts and in substantially concealing relation to the rectangular space bounded by said plurality of vertically extending elements, and lamps disposed in said space and operatively related within said lamp housing.

2. A combined building truss and lighting fixture, comprising a pair of horizontally extending angularly shaped members, oppositely disposed horizontally extending members respectively interconnecting the juxtaposed opposite ends of said pair of horizontally extending angularly shaped members, a pair of downwardly extending members connected at their ends respectively to said pair of horizontally extending angular members, a plurality of vertically extending members interconnecting substantially symmetrically disposed portions of said downwardly extending members with said horizontally extending angular members at substantially symmetrical portions thereof intermediate their respective ends, transparent panels enclosing the rectangular space bounded by said plurality of vertically extending elements and substantially concealing the same, said panels providing a lamp housing, and lamps mounted in said space and disposed within the housing.

3. A combined building truss and lighting fixture, comprising a pair of horizontally extending angularly shaped members, oppositely disposed horizontally extending members respectively interconnecting the juxtaposed opposite ends of said pair of horizontally extending angularly shaped members, a pair of downwardly extending members connected at their ends respectively to said pair of horizontally extending angular members, a plurality of vertically extending members interconnecting substantially symmetrically disposed portions of said downwardly extending members with said horizontally extending angular members at substantially symmetrical portions thereof intermediate their respective ends, transparent panels enclosing the rectangular space bounded by said plurality of vertically extending elements and substantially concealing the same, said panels providing a lamp housing, bracket means arranged within the housing and secured to said horizontally extending angular members, and lamps carried by said bracket means.

ROBERT L. DAVISON. 

